SPECIAL NUCLEAR MATERIALS
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| NUCLEAR ACCIDENT AT OAK RIDGE Y-12 PLANT (gy
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A nuclear accident occurred on June 16 in the weapons fabrication facility of the Y-12
plant at Oak Ridge. A critical mass was formed when a solution of highly enriched uranium was
inadvertently transferred from a container of “always safe” configuration to one not so designed. The radioactivity thus released set off the alarm system and the plant was evacuated.
Except for the immediate area of the accident, the building was reoccupied within 4 hours.
Decontamination was completed and all areas were returned to operation by June 23.
Eight employees were exposed to radiation. Five were estimated to have received exposures between 200 and 320 rad.* The other three received less exposure and showed no indications of radiation effect. All eight were under continuing observation at the Medical Division
Hospital of the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies. (End of WRRgWamPection.)
DCE ARCHIVES
*These five men were released from the hospital on July 30. By this time, more than 6 weeks after
the accident, they had passed through their critical period and were recovering satisfactorily from the
acute phase of exposure to this radiation. While there were definite changes in the blood elementsof ail
five men, there were evidences of recovery of the bone marrow such as to warrant a favorable prognosis.
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